Baseball game device



Feb. 2, 1932. F. c. ROJAHN BASEBALL GAME DEVICE Filed Aug. 1'7, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet Frederick aRgah 610m new Patented Feb. 2, 1932 FREDERICK O. ROJ'AHN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK I BASEBALL GAME DEVICE Application filed August 17, 1928. Serial No. 300,320. I

This invention relates to games of skill and has for its primary object an improved baseball game device wherein a base ball batter is so actuated such as to strike a pro- 5 jected ball, and the value of the strike indicated on a panel for the information of the operator of the device. I

A still further object of this invention is to provide a game device which is actuated by the introduction of a coin positioned such as to cause the device-to function when operated by theplayer.

With these and many other objects in View which will become more readily apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully pointed out, illustrated and "claimed. i

It will be quite readily understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention belongsthat the same is quite susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, but a practicalembodiment of the "invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig; 1 is a side elevational view of my improved base ball game device, showing the batter with his bat in position to strike the projected ball.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 10f the drawings.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of'the parts shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the batter ,being'removed for simplicity in the illustration.

Fig. 1 shows aside .elevational View of a slightly modified form of actuating mechanism from that shown in drawings.

F 1g. 5 1s a fied mechanism drawings. I

Fig. 6 show drawings.

Fig.' 1 of the plan View of parts of the modias shownin Fig. 4: of the s a modified form ofratchet mechanism as'used in theoperation mechanism shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

' Fig. 61A shows aplan iew of the coin receiving ratchet employed i n Fig. 1 of the lar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

' 1 Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 designates a table provided with a top 11 to the under side 12 of which the operating...

mechanism necessary for functioning of the present device is secured.

Suitably mounted for rotation and extending upwardly through the table top '11,-near one end thereof, is a vertical shaft 15 carry-.

ing atits upper end, above the table top, a disk'lt on which is mounted a figure 13 representative of a baseball player holdinga' bat 45. Secured to the shaft 15 below the table top is a pair of crank arms 16 and19. An

operating bell crank lever 17' is suitably mounted below the table top and is connected with the arm 19 by a link 18, whereby the shaft 15 is adapted to be rotated to rotate the figure 13 and to swing the bat 15 to a retracted position from which it is adapted to be spring actuated or swung to strike a thrown ball, a coil spring being suitably connected at one end with said shaft 15 and at its other end with a suitable fixed element as shown so that when said shaft is rotated to retract the bat 15 said spring is energized and thereby rendered effective to swing the bat to strike a ball upon release of said operating lever 17. Mounted on a shaft 29 suitably secured in bearings 30 and 31 beneath the table top 11 is a ratchet wheel 26 provided in its periphery with a plurality of coin receiving recesses which are adapted successively to aline with a coin slot 28 formed through the table top 11 when said ratchet wheel is rotated. The arm 16 is connectedby means of a link'l21, a pin 22 and a bracket 23,W1tl1 a'slide rod 24:, one end of which is disposed for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 26. Said ratchet wheel is so formed that when a coin 27 is inserted into one of the recesses therein said coin constitutes in effect a tooth of said ratchet wheel for engagement by the rod 24. Thus wheneverthe lever 17 is rocked to rotate the shaft 15 and thereafter to return said drawings thatthe wheel. 26 is. ofsuch construction that unless a coin .27 is inserted into one of the recesses thereof said wheel will not be rotated by the rod 24. Two teeth are formed on said whel betweeneach acent pair of coin receiving recesses therein so that by the insertion of a coin in theslot'-28-,-the

lever 17 may be actuated .to cause the figure.

13 to be partially rotated and returned to its --norilnali position shown in the drawings three distinct times, after. which it is necessary to insert anothercoin into. another of .the re- ,icessesinthe ratchet wheelbefore said figure I 1 :may ragainbe rotated 3 by, means of the actuator 17.

Theshaft 29carries a seeondratchet wheel 32, the: teeth] of i which are set in reverse order; from these ron .theratchet wheel. 26.

end 34 of a lever 35"which.isintermediately .lfulcrumed on a pin 36-carriedby a bracket 37 secured to the underside. of the {table top .11.

llhusrwhenever the ratchet wheel 26 is ro-.

1. 1tatedithrough annarc corresponding to the.

.Vlength'oftone of-itsteeth the-end 34: of the.

:--lever. .is'elevated andthen allowed to drop to a positiontow be engaged by thefollowing stooth 233.130 againbe elevated when the actu- .t-ionuof-t-he ratchet wheels '26 .and 32.

..thereof carrying the figure13 andathe afore- -Work=-A.. having. aplurality of superimposed .arrns80 pivotedthereto'each pivotally carryzr.plate-. .46.w;hich normally'rests .ona

. .'ledge 47 ,of saidframework-whereby the plate -.in=an elevated;.positio11. .These plates are 59401! 17 again is actuated. Holdingadogs 53 rand.- 54 are provided to prevent reverse rota- .spring 39 located betweentsaiddisk and a suitable fixed abutment. Upon compression of the disk 38 the same is engaged and held con-ipressed by a springpressed latch 50 until an end portion 52 of the link 24 rotates said disk to disengage it from the latch 50 to allow the .rod. 40. .and consequently the base plate 48 to be projected upward by the spring 39. 1 Itwill beeobserved in this connecti0n .thatthe end 52-of the link 24.is arranged to engage androtate. the disk whenthe latteris held by the latch 50. 1 The-plate48 under-lies .onthe base plate 48 and this .plateisadapted to be projected suddenly. upwardly-bythe spring 39 to delivertheiball with sufiicient force into the race 43 to causeiitto be delivered to the batu45 as aforesaid. i-The ball upon being struck the .bat 45 is intended to be returned against Jone-or the other ofgizgr,

the plates '46, these plateshaving different scoring values which may be indicated! in any suitablemanner.

It will be understood'of course.that the parts ofthe mechanismdescribed are so "conc nected and timed withrresp'ect 1300116 another that the disk 38 will :be released and the ball At the'end of the table 11 opposite theend AQsaidratchet wheelsxthereis provided afranie "450. .and its related; arm is maintained normally adaptedto .bestruck by a ball projected by rthe-bat .45::and .wl-1en. anypla-te isstruck it is; adapted to swing. inward relative tow its related arm-80so astozbe released froinits snpportingledged'f. and-ito sw ng with 1ts arm- 80 Uu-ndertbe influence of gravity to. a .i-lower position. ;The lever 35= has pivotally connected Etherewith one end of an interme- J-d1'ately p1voted lever 81uwh1ch is .pivotally connected at its other; endwith a resetting projectedsimultaneously with rotation of the figure 13 to swingtheu-bat .45 t0-.strike..the ball.

1 v 51105 F 1111 the alternative structure shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings ,the actuator :is

:in the tornr of a spring retracted plunger '59 disposed in alineinent with a cylinderi58 onthe'end of: a-rod 61 and overlying ashelfg 3:110

rod 61. If nocoin is disposed between-the plunger 59 and the cylinder 58 the plunger ;.-1nerel y enters *the cylinder without moving rod .82 having a: plurality, of .stops 83 for 'engageinentwith the arms tozreturn-the same valid the plates 46 to theirnormal positions the rod 61. The rod;61'is.-adapted for connectionwiththe-shaftlfi in any suitable man-3.120

ner to rotate same upon projectionsofzsaid rod and said rod'further-controls .ineans illustrated-generally at 62- and 64 im Figure 4 of the drawings to control the delivery'of "balls to the plate; '48. The shaft :15;-is' con ..-the lever. 35 is rocked on itspivot by atooth.

; of the ratchet-wheel. 32. a resetting, of the stargetplates .46. occurs.

AA. base..plate 48is hingedtothertable top 11 as ,at. 55 for. vertical swinging movement .nected ;bya link 48 with a. bell .crank 69 which. 'operates in any suitable 1 manner :to

.-compress.the spring 39. to store .energy for the elevation .of the pl ate 48. when the plunger 59 is projected.

In lieu of either of the means previously described for compressing the spring 39 an arrangement illustrated in Figure 6 may be provided consisting of a ratchet wheel which may be mounted on a shaft 29 and which includes teeth 72 cooperating with a pin 71 on an adjacent end of a lever intermediately pivoted as at so that its other end 73 is adapted for cooperation with the spring 39 in any suitable manner.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A ball game device comprising means for throwing a ball, means operatively connected with said ball throwing means for striking a thrown ball, an indicator device against which the ball is adapted to be projected by said striking means, said device including a plate having a normal position and adapted to fall by gravity from its normal position when struck by a ball, and means connected with said ball throwing means and operable by the latter to return said plate to its normal position prior to operation of said ball striking means to project the ball.

2. A ball game device comprising means for throwing a ball, means operatively connected with said ball throwing means for striking a thrown ball, an indicator device against which the ball is adapted to be projected by said striking means, said device including a plate having a normal position from which it is adapted to be moved upon being struck by a projected ball, and means operatively connected with said ball throwing means and said ball striking means to return said plate to its normal position prior to operation of said ball striking means to project the ball.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my sig nature.

FREDERICK C. ROJAHN. 

